ROCK Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * ROCK Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? (MPL) The sound of Paul McCartney and Wings’ used to only be heard on bootlegs or in snippets available on archival releases over the years. But it’s new (mostly) complete official release deserves two-handed applause. Paul McCartney and Wings / One Hand Clapping As aging rockers empty their vaults, McCartney steps forward with more than two dozen songs that were recorded 50 years ago for a video documentary and a possible live album.
The record finds McCartney and the 1974 iteration of his band Wings in peak form as they set up shop in the familiar confines of Abbey Road Studios in London. The recordings were made while was enjoying a seven-week run at the top of the British album charts. Maybe it’s because he’s in the Beatles’ old studio, or maybe it’s because was riding so high, but McCartney delivers spirited performances on .
He (briefly) revisits beloved Beatles songs such as and reaches even further back to Buddy Holly tracks from the 1950s. But he and Wings put the most energy behind the newest material such as and serves as a fine snapshot of McCartney during this post-Beatles creative high, with a fair number of rarities. Sixteen of the 32 tracks have never been officially released before.
The only real miss with this project was the stupefying decision not to include the video, even if on.
